French rock icon Johnny Hallyday dies at 74

Johnny Hallyday, the French rocker icon who packed sports stadiums and was the country's top rock star for decades, has died at 74.

French President Emmanuel Macron's office announced his death in a statement early Wednesday, saying "he brought a part of America into our national pantheon."

Macron's office said the president spoke with Hallyday's family after the news. Hallyday had long suffered from lung cancer and had repeated health scares recently.

"Johnny Hallyday has left us," the singer's wife, Laeticia, said in a statement to Agence France Presse. "I write these words without believing them. But yet, it's true. My man is no longer with us."

Johnny Hallyday; Image: Getty

Hallyday's glitzy stage aura was clearly fashioned around stars like Elvis Presley and his musical inspiration came from the likes of Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly. Yet his stardom largely ended at the French-speaking world.

Macron said "we all have something of Johnny Hallyday in us." Celine Dion was among stars sharing condolences at the news.

"I'm very sad to hear the news thatJohnny Hallyday passed away," Dion wrote on Twitter. "He was a giant in show business...a true icon! My thoughts go out to his family, his loved ones, and to the millions of fans who adored him for many decades.He will be sadly missed, but never forgotten."

Tweeted Lenny Kravitz, "Farewell Dear @JohnnySjh. Your friendship, sweetness and support are imprinted in my heart. It is an honor to have known you and to have spent time with you and your beautiful family. Your soul is pure Rock and Roll. Repose en paix."

"F--- cancer!!" wrote gossip blogger Perez Hilton. "Even I knew Johnny Hallyday! His reach was global and his legacy will be so meaningful!"

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